DRC / EBOLA WHO VISIT

10-Aug-2018
00:01:33

World Health Organization (WHO) top officials and experts are on the ground today in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to see the ongoing Ebola response and discuss areas that need particular support. WHO

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1. Various shots, WHO Director-General Tedros and WHO Regional Director for Africa Moeti arriving
2. Various shots, walking into General Hospital of Beni
3. Various shots, Tedros and Moeti observing vaccination
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“But as you know this eastern region is different from the West. As you know there is instability, high population density, high movement and that may require actually a stronger response. And so there is leadership from the government but all communities should also be involved and take ownership in fighting Ebola.”
5. Various shots, people getting vaccinated
6. SOUNDBITE (French) Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director for Africa, World Health Organization (WHO):
“We have been able to observe the increased capacity of this country during the outbreak in Equateur Province. So we are very encouraged by the possibility of ending the Ebola epidemic here even if the situation is complex.”
7. Various shots, Moeti observing vaccination

STORYLINE

World Health Organization (WHO) top officials and experts are on the ground today (10 Aug) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to see the ongoing Ebola response and discuss areas that need particular support.

WHO’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Regional Director Matshidiso Moeti, and Deputy Director-General of Emergency Preparedness and Response Peter Salama, were among those who visited the region.

SOUNDBITE (English) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“But as you know this eastern region is different from the West. As you know there is instability, high population density, high movement and that may require actually a stronger response. And so there is leadership from the government but all communities should also be involved and take ownership in fighting Ebola.”

SOUNDBITE (French) Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director for Africa, World Health Organization (WHO):
“We have been able to observe the increased capacity of this country during the outbreak in Equateur Province. So we are very encouraged by the possibility of ending the Ebola epidemic here even if the situation is complex.”

On Wednesday (08 Aug) the Ministry of Public Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) launched Ebola vaccinations for high risk populations in North Kivu province.

The vaccinations have begun just one week after the announcement of a second outbreak of Ebola this year in the country. According to WHO, a total of 44 cases have been reported so far, of which 17 have been confirmed.